I...AM...A........ROBOT!!!

We're heavily into robots here lately. Lula was a robot for Halloween and she still loves to do Robot Arms while saying, robotically of course, "I...A...WOBOT!!!" So, this appliqued robot shirt is on its way to baby Malcolm. Lula wants one know as well. Someday, Lula, someday...

I Have Conquered the Evil Satin!!

It's amazing what a couple of glasses of wine and some patience will accomplish. My second attempt is much more pleasing to the eye that it's evil twin. I still have to finish the top stitching on Lily's cape -- I ran out of thread with a little over six inches left. This of course brought more wine out, which led to a binge at Wendy's with Bruce and Ella followed by some Christmas shopping at Target. Shhh....don't tell Bruce that Breaking Dawn found its' way into my cart. After all these freaking capes, I deserve a good vamp book.

I'd like to thank the lovely Ella for modelling this size 3T cape for me. She has now decided that she wants a cape for Christmas, so she can be Dingo Woman. She's also requested the obligatory dingo ears as well, but that's an entirely different blog entry.


Satin is a real pain in the bottom. Double layered satin with applique is even more of a pain. But, I beat the demonic stuff into submission with the assistance from nearly every straight pin I own. Aside from Clive Barker's Pinhead I don't think this quantity of pins has ever been seen in one place. I once met Clive and discussed the spelling of meringue with him. I think he'd approve of my flowery Pinhead cape. Hmmm...I think I need to work on a Pinhead pincushion. Then again, knowing Etsy, it's probably been done.

My First Attempt at Embroidery on Satin

Or, "Why I Shouldn't Embroider on Satin" or, "Die Satin, DIE!!".

There will definitely be a sequel. Grrrrr.

A Gazillion Luminary Bags

For those of you who are curious about what a gazillion looks like, see above picture.

Things that Make the Turkey Happy

Things that make the turkey inside me happy -- first, awesome psychedelic vintage fabric scored on ebay. There are no words to describe the happy making power of this piece of cloth. I have no idea what I'll do with it, other than roll around in it and pet it and call it George.














Another set of happy making stuff -- Ella's first sleepover. It's been speculated that this is actually a a tribe of the elusive Sleeping Bag Monsters that National Geographic has been trying to capture on film for years. Bruce and I were grateful to have survived the experience. We made the mistake of going in without ear protection. My eardrums still bleed daily as a result of their terrifiying high pitched squeals. It's a very effective method of self defense, and largely the reason why these elusive creatures are not documented more. Definitely not a mission for the faint of heart.



I was lucky enough to capture their mummification ritual as well. I narrowly avoided becoming a Mommy Mummy myself. While this was definitely one the anthropological highlights of my life, I consider myself blessed to have experienced it once. I have plans to become too closely tied to the tribe.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Random.

Lula is named for my maternal grandmother. Lucy's full name is Lucy Faye, and Grandma was Faye Lucille. My grandmother was born Leila Faye, but apparently at some point in elementary school she changed her own name because there was another Leila who was a meanie. I love the spunk in that deed. This from a woman who signed her name "Mrs. George D. Brown" on her credit card receipts. I see that same flicker of independence in Lula, and I'm happy that she shares more than just a name with my Grandma.


So, getting back to the title of today's post, here are a couple of my favorite things. There are many more, but these are the thinks sitting on the compact flash card which is still in the computer.

First, a shirt that belonged to my grandmother. Out of the bazillion relatives in my mother's extended family I was the last to go through Grandma's house after she passed away. All the "good stuff" had been raided. Pffft. I didn't care. I wanted the things that brought her back to me, like this ratty old blouse. Grandma was a crafter and a gardener, and I can picture her doing both in this blouse. It sits at the front of my closet, and I love it. Every time I look at it I remember the time I came home from college to visit her and she asked me to clean out the gutters of her two story house. I tried, but was too afraid, so my eighty-something grandmother climbed the ladder while I held the bottom steady for her.


I remember thinking that her house had become a shell. Walking through her home after it had been stripped bare by relatives and strangers it seemed almost two dimensional. Saddest to me was the coffee tin sitting on the kitchen table filled with yarn roses that she had made. That was another thing I grabbed and will keep forever. My crafty DNA definitely is a Grandmotherly legacy.

Next, her breadbox. She used it right up til the end, and I have the nasty leftover breadcrumbs to prove it! I miss her.


And lastly, a fabric scrap sent from a good friend in the UK. A small thing that makes me very happy. Thank you, Jayne.

Random.

A Few Projects - AKA Mr. Bruce McSexypanterson

I've been bad about blogging lately. Some of that has to do with my frustration over getting my pictures laid out in a format that I really like. I get upset and walk away -- that's the reason for the RenFest slideshow. I gave up attempting a pleasing layout.

Here's a lame post with no clever chatter attached. Just so you all can see what I've been up to on the sewing machine. Included are myriad headbands modeled by the supersexy Bruce and the lovely Ella. Also, some felt creations -- some finished, some in progress. If you look closely you can see Lula's new flannel Hammer Pants, too.

My head hurts too much to be witty. Sorry, peeps. Also, if anyone can rescue me from Blogger photo hell, please do...